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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:24:48 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: YOUR EMAIL ID HAVE WON


Microsoft Corporations:
Customer Service
Your Reference No: AMC-L/L0352
Your Batch No: 2008/302/CCC
=20
OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION.
=20
We are pleased to inform you of the release of the long awaited results of
Sweepstakes promotion organized by Microsoft, in conjunction with the
foundation
for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.) held this September 2008,
in Spain. Where in your email address emerged as one of the online Winning
emails in the 2nd category and therefore attracted a cash award of
(=E2=82=AC475,000.00) EUROS
To begin your claim, do file for the release of your winning by contacting
our Foreign Transfer Manager:

Mr. Celino Ramses
Tel:++34 65 2677 942 =20
Email: celinoramses03@gmail.com =20
=20
The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by former
CEO/Chairman,
Bill Gates and a consortium of software promotion companies. The Intel Grou=
p,
Toshiba, Dell Computers and other International Companies. The Microsoft
internet E-mail draw is held periodically and is organized to encourage the
use of the Internet and promote computer literacy worldwide.
Congratulations!!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Maria Alanjedro
Promotions Manager.

Anti-fraud resources: